Once they were back inside, the dogs hopped up on the bed closest to the door, staring at Preacher like they were asking permission. He looked at Memphis, who just nodded. There was no way he wasn’t sleeping in Preacher’s arms if that was an option.
With just a gesture, the dogs plopped down on the mattress and went to sleep. Memphis wondered what it was like to just close your eyes and fade away for the night. Before he could think too much about it, Preacher was peeling his clothes back off and stalking naked towards Memphis. Christ. He let Preacher strip him down, tucking him under the covers to extinguish the lights and check the door one more time.
Once he slid in beside Memphis, it took only a look and Preacher was on him again, pulling him in close and kissing him. He hitched Memphis’s leg up over his hip, slotting their cocks together so they could rub off on each other, and it felt so good, Memphis didn’t even care if he was being loud. This time lasted longer, was a little lazier, but they both came before Preacher fell asleep.
Memphis was restless, though. He’d slept for hours in the car, and despite two orgasms, his brain was on overdrive. He wanted somebody to talk to. He needed to process everything that was happening to him.
When he looked at his phone, he was surprised to see it was barely midnight. It felt like he and Preacher had been going at it for hours. He tugged his phone free of its charger and pulled up Wyatt’s number.
Memphis: Are you awake?
Wyatt: I am if you’re texting to give me details of what you and that sexy as fuck man have been getting up to in that seedy roadside motel.
Memphis: How do you even know we’re in a motel?
Wyatt: Bro, you have no idea how our group works at all. Preacher texted Cy and let him know you were stopping for the night, Cy told Nicky, Nicky told Linc, and Linc told me. It’s the Elite telephone tree. It works slightly slower than the trauma twink tree, but it still gets me the tea. So, do you have any sexy deets I can pass on to the double T tea tree?
Memphis: Are you asking me to tell you about my sex life so you can tell all of your friends?
Wyatt: No, I’m asking you to tell me about your sex life so I can tell all of our friends. You’re one of us now. That’s just how this shit works. So…is there tea?
Memphis chewed on his lower lip. Why had he texted Wyatt if not to talk about what just happened?
Memphis: Yeah, yeah, I guess there is.
Wyatt: Hell yeah. Day’s right next to me. Tell us everything.
The change in Memphis was literally night and day. He woke Preacher in the night, running his hands over his body, fist wrapping around Preacher’s cock, working him until he woke up and kissed Memphis. They then jerked each other to completion before dozing off for a few more hours.
In the truck, Memphis seemed sleepy but had a smile on his face as he gazed out the window and bobbed his head to the music playing from the radio. Each time Preacher caught his gaze, he’d blush and duck his head. It made Preacher’s heart do funny things in his chest. When Memphis wasn’t gazing out the window, he was texting with Wyatt and Day, getting updates on Knox.
The boy still wasn’t talking, but he was taking to life on the ranch like a duck to water. He had already ridden his first horse, gotten to ride on an ATV with Wyatt, and had introduced Donatello to the duck pond where he tried to chase the water fowl until they struck back. Memphis relayed all this information with both amusement and obvious relief.
Just outside their destination, they stopped at the local Walmart, leaving the boys tucked in the vehicle, while they ran inside to grab groceries, warm clothes for Memphis, and any toiletries the cabin might be lacking. They went at their tasks with speed and efficiency, not wanting to leave the boys in the cold for any length of time, no matter how much the two might enjoy it.
The food items went quick, with the two focused more on function than nutrition, throwing everything in the cart from mac and cheese to Little Debbies. They did make sure to hit the produce section as well, filling up on fruits and vegetables, though with slightly less enthusiasm than they had in the cookie aisle.
In the men’s department, Memphis grabbed two pairs of jeans that fit, two quilted jackets, a handful of cheap thermals, and socks and underwear of his own. Preacher also insisted he grab a pair of sturdy boots since where they were going might be treacherous. Things progressed without a hitch until they hit the pharmacy section. Toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, and first aid supplies all went into the cart. Preacher had just turned to toss some Advil into the cart when he realized Memphis was lagging behind.
Preacher backed up the cart, noticing Memphis was now standing before the condoms, but his gaze wasn’t on them—it was on the lube that lined the bottom of the shelf. He cut his gaze to Preacher, his tongue darting out to lick over his bottom lip. Preacher did his best not to get an awkward hard-on in the middle of the family-friendly store. But there was clearly a question in Memphis’s posture, his gaze. He was asking Preacher for more than they’d done last night. Fuck.
Preacher leaned into Memphis’s space, letting him press his front to Memphis’s back as he whispered in his ear, “Whacha thinking? Have a preference?” Memphis’s shoulders sagged like he was relieved, and he reached down for the oil based lube. “You know, oil based lube eats through condoms. You might prefer silicone or water.”
Memphis leaned back into him, craning his head to whisper, “Do we need them?”
Preacher’s breath left him like he’d been gut-punched. The idea of not using condoms hadn’t occurred to him, even though it should have given the things they’d gotten up to in the hotel last night. He’d come in Memphis’s mouth, let him swallow his load. They should have had a conversation before that.
Yeah, now he definitely had an awkward erection pressing against his jeans. He shifted awkwardly as a woman and her husband strolled past the aisle, giving the two of them a curious look. Preacher realized the exact moment he waited too long to answer, Memphis’s expression morphing from hopeful to embarrassed, his cheeks pinking and the light in his eyes dying. “Never mind. We can—”
“Stop.” Preacher’s voice was a low rumble against Memphis’s ear, not wanting anybody else to overhear them and embarrass Memphis further. Preacher wondered if there would ever be a time when Memphis believed he was wanted. “I’m negative. They tested me before I left prison. I was just thinking this is a conversation I should have had with you last night. It was stupid of me. Have you been tested?”
Memphis nodded. “I’m negative. Is it wrong if we just don’t use them? Is it irresponsible?”
“I don’t think they’re going to revoke our membership cards,” Preacher said with a chuckle. “But if you keep talking about letting me fuck you raw, you’re going to find yourself getting banged in a Walmart dressing room.”
Memphis blushed even deeper, but this time, he locked eyes with Memphis, his pupils blown. “Yeah?”
Preacher gave a quick look around before taking Memphis’s hand and dragging it to his cock, which was thankfully trapped behind his zipper. “What do you think?” Memphis’s fingers traced the shape of Preacher’s erection before squeezing. Preacher laughed, snagging Memphis’s hand and threading their fingers together. “Okay, that’s enough. I can’t afford to get arrested for indecent exposure in a Walmart. Let’s check out, and we can pick this up when we’re all alone and nobody can hear you moan.” He grabbed lube from the shelf below, winking at Memphis.
